Nickelodeon Hires SVP To Boost Preschool Division Following Layoffs

Nickelodeon has appointed Jennifer Dodge to the newly created position of SVP West Coast Development and Production for Nickelodeon Preschool. The move comes almost two weeks after the kids cable network began layoffs as part of broader reductions at parent Viacom. Among those pink-slipped were Emmy winner Teri Weiss, Nickelodeon’s EVP Preschool Programming, and Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP Production & Development atNickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and NickMom. This apparently is a move to shore up that unit.

Dodge had been a VP and executive producer at Spin Master Entertainment, where she oversaw creation, acquisition, development, financing, production and distribution of TV series, films and web content since 2009. She also led Spin Master’s foray into preschool with the hit PAW Patrol, which airs on Nickelodeon. She also is co-creator and executive producer of the recently launched preschool show Little Charmers, a co-production with Nelvana that Nick Jr. has worldwide.

In her new role, she will spearhead West Coast-based development of all original content for Nickelodeon Preschool’s programming block and the Nick Jr. channel, as well as additional preschool platforms such as the Nick Jr. app. She also will take pitches and develop creative assignments for preschool projects and be tasked with developing in-house talent, and discovering and nurturing new artists and writers in the West Coast creative community.

She will be based out of Nickelodeon’s Animation Studio in Burbank and report to Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon’s President of Production and Development.

Before joining Spin Master, Dodge served as VP Distribution and Sales Operations for Cookie Jar Entertainment.